The Evening Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1906.

Evening Star, Issue 12882, 3 August 1906, Page 6

The Evening Star. FRIDAY, AUGUST 3, 1906.

Whtxe the general policy of the Ward t> j,„ , Administration is likelv to Political follow the familiar lines of Methods. sturdy Liberalism which the electors have repeatedly approved, there is reason to believe that tho new Premier recognises the desirability of sonie change of method, especially as regards the conduct of parliamentary business. It is generally admitted that Mr Seddon's great powers were not displayed to the best advantage-in the management of the House bf Representatives, and the new Ministry should certainly utilise the circumstances of the present juncture to effect reforms in the direction of accelerating the work of the 3es3ibn and giving greater ease and effectiveness to the parliamentary machine. Sir Josoph Ward's commercial instincts and experience should enable hinl to accomplish the task of placing: the proceedings pi the Eoase of JEUgu-e-

sentatives upon a business-like footing; while his conciliatory temper and his disjike of purposeless volubility will servo to furtner the same end. Be acted as Leader of the House for some months a few years ago, and parliamentarians have not' forgotten -the facile and yet thorough way in which the work of legislation was }crformed during that session. There is nothing invidious in emphasising the superiority of the new Premier in this special respect; the fair fame of his illustrious predecessor can afford to suffer a few minor qualifications. The fact is that Mr Seddoiis own volubility gave encouragement to loquacity in others, while his masterful disposition hardly tended to mollify the political animosity of the Opposition patry. &ir Joseph Ward has yet to prove himself as great a statesman as his old chief, but it is not too much to say that he is already known to bo a more successful parliamentary tactician. Under his reasonable guidance we hope to see in the House at once a softening of party spirit and an increase of concentrated industry. During the recent short session Mr Hall-Jones, speaking as Premier, used the following sigiiiiiwnt words:-"! think that the Budget .should come down the first week of ''the session. ... I say emphatically that for any session of Parliament the whole of the work that requires doin* could be done in three months. I have no doubt about it." Ninety-nine out of every hundred electors are of the F » m r opinion; nay, we question whether thr> odd dissident could be found in every hundred. Moreover, the new Premier is known to share his colleague's view. "I wan t "to see no late hours," added Mr HallJones m the same speech; " but to do our 'work as business men, and have everything prepared in a business-like form. <( 1 hen wc shall do good work in the three "months, and I believe the country will "be. better satisfied." Ih- Hall-Jones's grammar, as reported in 'Hansard,' may not be quite unexceptionable, but his sentiment is sound. He went on to say that 100 much time was spent over private members' Bills which no one expected to become law. We hope that the Government, without putting any unfair restraint upou the rights of the individual men-ber, will endeavor to discourage these reademic discussions. There are special reasons why the coming session should be short, but there are also sufficient reasons why all sessions should be confined to llio limit mentioned by Mr Hail-Jones. We wo of opinion that the time has come for abrogating the rule under which the House, in ordinary circumstances, takes a holiday on Monday. The House of Commons sits on Monday: why not the New Zealand House of Representatives? A change in this respect need not interfere with the discharge of committee work. Again, not only should the Budget be brought dnui within a week of the opening of the session, but fas we have urged for years past) the Public Works Statement should nir.lco a comparatively early appearance. There should also be greater promptitude in the presentation of parliamentary reports and papers, to say nothing of policy Bills. The complaints of the Opposition regarding the delay in furnishing of reports has sometimes been more or les3 factious, no doubt, but not always. We have no misgivings concerning the conduct of the coming session ; papers and reports are known to be in a forward state of preparation; ?nd the Government may be trusted to Uo all that lies in their power to despatch the work in quick time. We want nnre tlr.n this, however. We want to see a permanent force given to this laudable intention. The business-like methods advocated by Mr Hall-Jones on June 29 should characterise the proceedings of every fit uro session. Such a change would gTeatly increase the respect with which tho New Zealand Parliament is viewed by the people vro are responsible for its compositun.